Bulldogs host Clippers tonight for must-win game four

Break out all the cliches - do or die. Now or never. 'Backs against the wall. Live to fight another day. That's the scenario that the Bulldogs find themselves in tonight as they host the Nanaimo Clippers for game four of this Island Division semi final series. 

How about simplify it and say - just win. 

The Clippers sit on the edge of advancing after winning a third straight game to open the post season Tuesday night at the Dog Pound by a 3-2 score. 

There was much to like from the Bulldogs in game three. I thought that in the third period they looked as good as they have looked in a lonnnnnnng time. They actually looked like....themselves - when they were at their best earlier in the season prior to the seemingly never-ending run of at times ludicrious adversity that they've been fighting through. It's not a coincidence that it's only the second period that they've won so far in the series either, after the first period of game two. Having said that - the Clippers are way too good a team - any team is, at this juncture of the season - to only win a period, and expect to win a game. The Bulldogs need to play like they did in the final 20 minutes on Tuesday night for a full 60 minutes (or more) tonight. If they do that, they'll give themselves a chance to keep playing. 

I can only hope that the players believe as firmly as I do that everything they've gone through to this point has only served them in a positive way, to steel their resolve for what's to come on the rest of their journey.

Whether you think it's over...or you think it's far from it, and just beginning....you're right. It's all mind over matter, and the task at hand and nothing but now. See - Warriors, West Kelowna. They fell into a 3-0 series hole with a 9-2 loss in game three. They didn't pack it in - they won game four 2-1 in overtime to force game five. And while their season ended in the fifth game last night - they were ONE shot away from coming home to play a sixth game, as the Vees ended it in overtime. You never know. From 9-2 on the ropes, to overtime with a chance to come home to put the other side on the ropes and force a seventh game. It won't be easy. It never is. Believe - and you're half way there already! 

The full crew will be back in the booth tonight to cover it all - I'll call the play-by-play, Bruce MacDonald provides game analysis and adds colour commentary and Dan Tisserand tabulates team and player statistics. 

Pacific Chevrolet Bulldogs Hockey on 93.3 The Peak FM is on the air for our pregame show at 6:45, with all the live game action to follow after 7:00pm. 

Tonight's 2nd Intermission guest is former Bulldog Jake Witkowski, already in his Junior season with the NCAA's Boston College Terriers. 

Spoiler alert from the interview - here's Jake's favourite memory as a Bulldog. 

If you aren't in listening range of 93.3 The Peak FM you can listen/watch the game by:

Listening Live on your computer: www.933thepeak.com
Listening Live on your SmartPhone : www.tunein.com/mobile/
Watching Live on your computer/SmartPhone www.hockeytv.com

Let's drop the puck already!  

Hammer

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